The War We Live In
War. It’s a single word but it brings so much sorrow and destruction into our world. Since I can remember, I’ve been taught history and how war has shaped it, yet, history repeats itself over and over again, and that’s how we live in a world full of hatred and run by war. A lot of people argue that war still is number one in our world because it’s profitable, others say that war represents our own nature and that’s why we love being in war. Whatever the reason, I think that war is the worst reality in our world, it destroys families, countries, beautiful places… it destroys our world. Every time I watch the news I get full of sadness because there is always a headline about a child full of despair because of the war. I live in Colombia, a country that has faced so much violence and war for many years and I was born in the USA, a country that has been into a lot of wars for many absurd (to me) reasons. I think that it is in our hands to change that reality, we can say NO to war, because every act of violence starts in a home, school or community.
After my little reflection let’s talk about movies. There is a whole genre about war (war films), it has certain characteristics and it came to prominence in the 70s and 80s, after WWII and the Vietnam War. This genre became famous because it was a strong critic (sometimes) of war and the destruction that it brings, also during that time the world was living the Cold War, another expression of war that also inspired a lot of movies and TV shows. There is also a huge number of movies made in pro of wars, the Nazis made a bunch of propaganda movies and also the Russians made a lot of propaganda during the Soviet Union. So, to this day there are hundreds of movies about war, all from very different perspectives, so I’m going to list some I like, even though I’m not a fan of the genre, I’m only going to use fiction movies, not propaganda or any in pro of war.
1. Inglorious Bastards (2009): This Tarantino directed movie is quite the ride. It’s about an elite group of Jewish US soldiers whom are sent to kill some Nazis leaders during WWII. It’s one of the best movies by Quentin Tarantino and it has all the elements of his movies. Watch it if you’re in the mood for blood and dark humor.
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998): One of the most popular war films ever made. It won five out of eleven nominations in the Academy Awards. The movie became so popular because it was one of the firsts to portray the war in a very raw and graphic way. One of the best things about this movie is its 27-minute opening. It’s a great film that really makes you feel and re think the war, and its full of drama so you’ll be hanging for the 2h 40m of the movie.
3. The Imitation Game (2014): This movie tells the story of Alan Turing, a British mathematician who invents the enigma code, which helped decipher the Nazis communications. It’s a great portrayal by Benedict Cumberbatch of this man that was key in WWII. It also makes a dramatic and emotional representation of his personal life and his struggle as a homosexual man during that time.
4. Casablanca (1941): My classic of the list and also my favorite. This a romance movie set in Casablanca, Morocco during the invasion during WWII. There, two ex- lovers run into each other and all kind of complications set loose. I love this movie and it’s also considered one of the best films ever made. This is a must watch.
5. Platoon (1986): This movie is a realistic and strong criticism on the war. It was directed by Oliver Stone; an American director whose movies always feature a criticism on US politics and the war. The film is about a young soldier who has to put to test his beliefs and moral because of the atrocities that he faces during his time in the Vietnam War. I really like this movie because it questions everything about the war. It’s also a great movie in terms of technique and filmmaking, it won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
6. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008): This movie will give you all kind of emotions, it will make you cry until you fall sleep (no kidding). The film is about two boys who become friends, the tricky thing is that one is the son of a German soldier and the other is a Jewish who lives on the other side of the fence in a concentration camp during WWII. It portraits the cruelty and the suffering that many kids went through in that war and many others. This is also a must watch.
7. Fury (2014): Another WWII movie (what can I do? It’s the most dramatic war ever and its good drama for movies), it’s about a group of US soldiers who get trapped in a tank and have to pass Germany in 1945. The best thing about this film is its characters who all have a very different perspective on the war, so it also makes you see the war in different shades.
8. Schindler’s List (1993): This movie also won a lot of awards and became quite popular. Is another WWII movie but is shown from the perspective of the Jews, which makes it a very dramatic and emotional portrayal of the war. It features the famous girl in the red coat.
9. Life is Beautiful (1997): This movie will also make you cry. It shows the profound love that a father has for his young boy. The father makes everything he can to protect his child for the atrocities and reality of the war (WWII). Watch it if you’re looking for a drama full of love.
10. Blood Diamond (2006): This movie is about the diamonds that were produced and helped fund the civil war in Sierra Leone. What I think is the most shocking and unsettling thing about this film is the portrayal of child recruitment by the insurgent forces. It’s a great film full of drama but also some good thriller.
I hope you liked my list and have fun watching them. And remember to question the validity of war, it’s always in our hands to change our reality, because even the most graphic and dramatic movie, it will never show the absoulte reality that many people has faced during the wars we have lived.
